I have walked by this dumpster numerous times not really paying much attention to it. Then one day something caught my eye, maybe it was a slight movement, the light, a gentle sound. I don’t know, but that is when I noticed

It isn’t often you see an old wooden ladder still in use, but this one is at an old work site building and a modern metal ladder would look out of place against this wall. The ladder was just leaning against the wall almost as a decorative piece you might see in a photo shoot or a theme restaurant. But since the door to the workshop was open I am willing to bet this ladder is still in use. It is a survivor of who knows how many jobs and equipment upgrades, still useful and being used as intended, and casting a long shadow which I just happened to see.

Early Friday before work I headed out along country roads, stopping when something caught my eye and generally enjoying the chance to be out and about. The morning was distantly foggy, reflecting the light in odd ways and softening some of the edges. This shot is from a nondescript wide spot on a quiet road which offered a great view to the west and great detail up close in the water. Swamps are great places to get long open shots like this that seem to stretch on and on into the distance. New Hampshire is so heavily forested now that it can be hard to find views like this except from higher elevations. I believe in the 1800’s the overwhelming majority of the state was cleared of trees for farmland, pastures and logging, now I think it is close to 80% forested. Which makes for great leaf peeking autumns that is certain, and I am trying to enjoy it while it lasts. We haven’t had a killing frost yet, but the temperatures are beginning to dip lower and lower each night as the sunsets earlier and earlier. When the frost comes the last of the leaves will turn, and fall in drifts along the roads and in crunchy circles under the trees on lawns. I always laugh when I think of how we handle leaves now. Once they could be burnt in your yard, imparting a signature scent of fall. Or people would insulate the outside of the houses foundation with them for the winter. Most leaves were raked up and ended up in piles at the back of properties to become dirt. Now the idea seems to be to buy brown paper leaf bags and have them hauled off on garbage day as if they are trash. It seems an odd way to handle them, yet I see driveway after driveway with rows of these bags standing at attention awaiting pickup. I guess leaves no longer decompose the way they used to, a most unexpected evolutionary event. 😉

Okay, maybe it isn’t the last dahlia of the season, but it must be one of the final ones.

I love the last hurrah of autumn flowers, the exuberance and showy-ness they display in the garden and planters. Staying as long as possible, they throw their colors out to the passerby to enjoy. Autumn gardens are full of the oranges of Japanese lanterns, golden mums, purple asters and so many more, a delight to see as the days approach of gardens covered in snow. I am out and about as much as possible to take it all in, and why wouldn’t I be? The season is too nice, and too short, to spend indoors. Off I go early tomorrow before work to capture more of the fall colors, I will probably be a bit dampish when I get to work, but it will be worth it!